Video: The greatest traffic stop ever?

posted at 6:47 pm on March 30, 2012 by Allahpundit

We’re a few days late to this, I know, but it’s perfect Friday material and a nifty sequel to the greatest arrest ever. I’m giving you two versions of the dashboard-cam video, the AP’s edited clip and the PD’s extended director’s cut, but the highlight of this post isn’t the footage, as insane as it is. It’s this must-read WaPo report on what “Batman” does with his time. He’s not fighting crime anymore, but he’s still a hero:

When Batman finally reached the elevator for the slow ride up to the cancer ward, I could see his face already sweating behind the mask. He told me he loses 5 to 6 pounds in water weight when he wears the superhero uniform. He paid $5,000 for it. He spends $25,000 a year of his own money on Batman toys and memorabilia. He signs every book, hat, T-shirt and backpack he hands out — Batman…

Batman began visiting Baltimore area hospitals in 2001, sometimes with his now teenage son Brandon playing Robin. Once other hospitals and charities heard about his car and his cape, Batman was put on superhero speed dial for children’s causes around the region. He visits sick kids at least couple times a month, sometimes more often. He visits schools, too, to talk about bullying. He does not do birthday parties.

“Eventually, it sinks in and you become him,” Batman told me. “It feels like I have a responsibility that’s beyond a normal person. And that responsibility is to be there for the kids, to be strong for them, and to make them smile as much as I can.” He understands that might sound corny, but he doesn’t care…

Batman stepped off the elevator on the fourth floor of Children’s. Spider-Man and Wonder Woman were there too — both professional actors from talent agencies, on the clock. He picked up a little boy and said, “I have a present for you.” He shook hands with a father and handed him a yellow rubber Batman bracelet, saying, “This will bring you good luck.” The father said, “We need good luck.”

Read to the end of the story for the reaction upon seeing the “Batmobile” of a four-year-old whose baby sister has cancer. Said “Batman” to Jalopnik, “I don’t do it to become famous, I do it for the kids. They mean more to me than anything.” It’s only March but this might be the feelgood story of the year.

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

The best part is the very final few seconds of the first AP video, when after pulling him over, and checking the registration, the cop asks him to pose for a picture and then the cops sings, “Batman!! Duhduhduhduhduhduhduhduh duh duh, Bat man!....”, like he was six years old again.

Years back a friend of a friend of mine got scolded for similar ‘infringement’. All he did was walk through local parks dressed as a licensed character from a kids’ show. “So sorry, boys and girls, but Mr.R can’t come around anymore because he hasn’t paid out the nose to use his costume.”

He did post the notice from the company some time later, and it promptly took a PR hit for being a bunch of a-holes.

Were I a cop and stopped someone who got out of his babe-catcher, high priced wheels wearing a Batman costume, I might put a hand on my pistol, going off-safety, and ready to drill. I’m glad these cops had a safe and fun stop here, certainly not what they deal with on a daily basis.

And that this wealthy guy, whom Obama wants to tax more, decides to spend some time with sick kids in a hospital, dressed as Batman, bringing smiles to them, is something we should celebrate, not punish. Kudos to the cops here for realizing that.

…over the radio you hear something about them needing to get to a hospital. What are they doing instead? Taking pictures of a guy in a Batman outfit standing next to a Lamborghini.

MadisonConservative on March 30, 2012 at 6:58 PM

Meanwhile, poster is sitting on butt, beer in hand, kind of lonely last night? Nothing to do? No hospital to visit, rest homes to visit, just time to whine about some cops praising a man and honoring him?…what a vision.

…over the radio you hear something about them needing to get to a hospital. What are they doing instead? Taking pictures of a guy in a Batman outfit standing next to a Lamborghini.

MadisonConservative on March 30, 2012 at 6:58 PM

Yah, those darn cops. They didn’t come onto him like he was committing a crime, they didn’t ticket him for having no plate displayed, and they generally just went with the flow. All they did was pull him over, checked him out briefly, made sure the car was properly registered. That really is disappointing. Well, to you, anyway.

…over the radio you hear something about them needing to get to a hospital. What are they doing instead? Taking pictures of a guy in a Batman outfit standing next to a Lamborghini.

MadisonConservative on March 30, 2012 at 6:58 PM

They’re saying we’ll let you get to the hospital-he was on his way to visit sick children as a community service. There was no time pressure. There really wasn’t any harm in posing for a few photos for the police.